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DARPA's 'Social Puppet'

Roland Piquepaille writes "Videogame creators are heavily using software to animate objects or characters without reprogramming them between two scenes. Now, game designers from the University of Southern California (USC) have developed 'Social Puppet,' a computer engine to 'help soldiers learn unfamiliar languages by interacting with animated characters.' For this project, financed by DARPA, the researchers have used their expertise in previous videogames used by the armed forces, such as 'Tactical Iraqi.' But previous games were focused on teaching language and customs while Social Puppet is giving on-screen characters human non-verbal communication behaviors."

8 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Finally, a real use for... by PornMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally, a real use for clippy!

    "I noticed that you're having some problems with Farsi."

    1. Re:Finally, a real use for... by jonastullus · · Score: 4, Funny

      "i've noticed you're trying to calm a crowd of trigger happy extremists. would you like to use the "Middle East Crowd" wizard?"

    2. Re:Finally, a real use for... by Musteval · · Score: 5, Funny
      "i've noticed you're trying to calm a crowd of trigger happy extremists. would you like to use the "Middle East Crowd" wizard?"

      ...at an NRA meeting.

      --
      Note to mods: I'm probably being sarcastic.
  2. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency by tepples · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why is the company that is at the forefront of intelligent vehicles collaborating with the U.S. army!?

    Umm... the US Army is part of the Department of Defense , and DARPA stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

  3. /. Expansion Pack? by DavidD_CA · · Score: 4, Funny

    > while Social Puppet is giving on-screen characters human non-verbal communication behaviors

    Can they release an expansion pack for the /. crowd? You know, something that teaches us how to act in social situations like bars and parties?

    And no, Leisure Suit Larry doesn't count.

    --
    -David
  4. Re:crowd control on the keyboard by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Great, now people will learn about:
    • fire without burning themselves
    • gills without growning them.
    • quantum theory without actually looking at atoms.
    • distant galaxies without actually going there.
    • flying planes without ever getting in one.
    • sex without having it.
    • foreign languages without leaving home.


    Blah blah blah.. Simulations are always used when the subject matter is too dangerous, too expensive, or otherwise impractical for hands-on learning. You don't jump into a firefight to learn how to shoot. Describing and/or simulating those events is pretty much the same way we've been teaching for thousands of years. If you're thinking the process goes like this:

    Drill Sergeant: "Ok recruit, sit down at that terminal and follow the instructions on screen."
    [30 minutes later]
    Johnny: "Ok, all done."
    Drill Sergeant: "All done WHAT?"
    Johnny: "All done, SIR!"
    Drill Sergeant: "That's right! Now get on that plane and get your ass on the battlefield. You're a soldier now!"

    You're sorely mistaken.

    (He'd have to do way more pushups).
  5. Re:DARPA no! by minus_273 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you think that is bad, I heard DARPA created a special computer network for the military too. I think it was designed to survive a nuclear attack. After reading this article and the one about the computer network, I've really come to dislike DARPA. If you ask me, DARPA should not waste their time working on such projects for the military. They should stick to peaceful things like autonomous vehicles capable of traveling over the desert alone.

    --
    The war with islam is a war on the beast
    The war on terror is a war for peace
  6. Re:Military intelligence by brit74 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > Any group using force to project its terms is a terrorist group.

    Indeed, that's why all World War 2 vets are actually terrorists. It doesn't matter if your enemy is the loathsome Nazis or headed by a self-proclaimed deity on earth (Imperial Japan) who invaded China and killed millions of Chinese. Imposing force is always terrorism. For that matter, when cops impose force on me after robbing a bank - they're terrorists. When will people learn that a big peace rally would've stopped the Nazis dead in their tracks?